DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings must wait until Friday morning to learn what punishment the NHL will hand out to defenseman Brendan Smith for his hit to the head on Chicago's Ben Smith in Wednesday's preseason game, general manager Ken Holland said.

Smith and Holland had a hearing on the phone this afternoon with Brendan Shanahan, the league's new director of player safety.

By having a hearing, the league is able to suspend Smith for at least five games, including the final three games of the preseason.

Smith deferred comment until after the NHL makes its ruling. But coach Mike Babcock said after practice Thursday that the puck-carrier, in these instances, bears some responsibility.

“He hit him in the head,'' Babcock said. “We don't want guys getting hurt and players don’t want guys getting hurt. I understand Chicago's reaction totally, when it's your player. But I also know what hockey is and what's going on in the game.

“We have to be smart enough to not put ourselves in bad situations.

“Smith got run from behind against Philly (Sept. 23 preseason game), a guy buried him in London (Sept. 22 preseason game), absolutely ran him from behind big-time. I wasn't mad at the kid that ran him. I said to Smitty, 'You're going to end up with a broken neck if you do that again.' ''

Shanahan, the former Red Wing, already has handed out seven suspensions in the preseason.

“I can't even imagine being Shanny,'' Babcock said. “There's lots going on in the game. The game is so fast, the rink is so small and the players are so big.

“I think they're saying it's a mandate for the players to look after the players. I know they spent tons of time trying to educate the players on (head shots).''